Blankenstein Castle

Burg Blankenstein is a castle located on the south side of the river Ruhr in Hattingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.

May 12th 1226 Adolf I, Count of the Mark, gave the order to build the castle. He charged Truchsess Ludolf von Bönen to set up Blankenstein. Beginning in 1227, the castle was ready in 1243, but built over the course of 200 years by the Counts of the Mark. In 1425 Blankenstein is one of the most important castles in the county. In 1614, shortly before the Thirty Years' War, it was occupied by Spanish troops. Since 1637 began the dilapidation of the castle, so that in September 1662 Frederick William, Elector of Brandenburg, ordered to demolish the castle. Only the tower and parts of the curtain wall remained.

Since 1860 the owner of the ruin, the employer Gustav vom Stein, began to rebuild the castle and established a factory there. The property has belonged to the city of Bochum since 1922, but the town is looking for an alternative due to the costs. 1957 und 1959 most of the buildings of the 19th century were pulled down, but some still remain.

The tower can still be visited and offers a good view over Bochum and the Kemnader Lake.